South African Communist Party (SACP) Gauteng Province statement on the alleged destruction of hawkers property by Tshwane Metro Police in Hammanskraal

27 August 2012

SACP strongly condemns the destruction of the property of the Hawkers allegedly by the Tshwane Metro Police in the area of Hammanskraal on Friday, 24th August 2012. SACP noted that the incident was allegedly orchestrated by the Metro Police without any prior proper consultation with the affected hawkers.

SACP firmly believe that this incident severely affected the livelihood of these marginalised sections of the working class and the poor, especially in the light of the high levels of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

SACP calls on the Mayor of Tshwane, Councillor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to urgently constitute an investigation into the alleged conduct of the Metro police. SACP believes that the Mayor must leave no stone unturned to reach to the bottom of this extremely uncalled for conduct.

We have also instructed our District Executive Committee in Tshwane to urgently meet with the affected Hawkers and relevant structures to establish preliminary facts about the incident and engage the Mayor accordingly.

SACP noted that alleged conduct by the Tshwane Metro police took place in the same week that the President of the Republic of SA, President Jacob Zuma declared national mourning following the tragic loss of life in Marikana, Lonmin mine.

We further believe that this incident also plays in the hands of the same populists, demagogues and opportunists, including those in the opposition that seeks to portray our country and its democracy in a bad light.

Issued by SACP Gauteng Province

Mamabolo Jacob

SACP Provincial Secretary – 082 884 1868